Goats Gobble Christmas Trees

What should be done with an old Christmas tree? One idea is to give it to a goat!

People who celebrate Christmas may face a problem when the holidays are over—what to do with the Christmas tree. Happily, a pine tree is a tasty treat for a goat!

“I was very surprised to find out that goats would want to eat a Christmas tree,” Chicago resident Jay Thomas told the Associated Press. Thomas had just donated his old tree to a farm called Urban Growers Collective. “A Christmas tree is all piney and spiney and sounds painful to me to eat! But they’re happy with it.”

Each January, many zoos and farms ask people to donate their Christmas trees. The trees help feed goats during a time of year when the grass that goats like to eat isn’t growing. For the goats, pine trees aren’t just delicious—they also help control worms that can live in the animals’ intestines and cause health problems.

“They love it. It’s a treat for them, and the other cool thing is, it’s actually…a natural de-wormer,” Brent Fields told WOOD TV8. Fields runs Fields Farm in Comstock Park, Michigan. Fields said all real Christmas trees are great, as long as they’re donated without tinsel or ornaments. Experts also caution against donating Christmas trees that have been sprayed with pesticides, which are chemicals designed to control insects and other pests.

Goats aren’t the only animals that enjoy eating Christmas trees. Kangaroos, elephants, pigs, and even chickens have been known to feast on them. All of these animals have stomachs that are tough enough to digest pine trees.

Fields said there aren’t that many parts of a pine tree his goats won’t eat. “By the end of the day [when the goats are finished eating], it will be nothing but sticks.”

Did You Know?

Have you heard that goats have four stomachs? That’s not quite true!

What is true is that a goat’s stomach has four chambers, or parts. Each chamber plays a different role in the digestion process, allowing the goat to digest tough plant fibers.

NEWS EXTRA!

Wildfires Strike Los Angeles

Two people hug and weep while kneeling in ruins from a fire. — Shannon Hahn hugs her friend, Peggie Martin, who lost the house where she grew up.

Two women wear respiratory masks as they sort through fire wreckage. — Sisters Ariana Derderian and Karina Nazarian look for any belongings that may have survived after one of the fires destroyed their childhood home.

At a donation site outside a stadium, a man hands a full bag to a volunteer. — This donation site was set up outside of the arena where the Los Angeles Lakers play home games.

A woman holds a child and they smile at each other with donated clothing on offer in the background. — Zahrah Mihm holds her son during a visit to a donation center after losing their home and belongings in one of the fires.

A woman wearing a neon vest gives bottled beverages and other supplies to an unseen person inside a car. — This donation center distributes food, drinks, and other supplies to anyone who needs them.

A man and a woman carry packages of bottled water amid piles of similar packages in an open lot. — Volunteers carry water to people who have evacuated their homes.

A child stands in the middle of a pile of donated clothing and holds up a doll. — A young girl plays with her doll as her family looks through donated clothes.

© Barbara Davidson—The Washington Post/Getty Images, © Barbara Davidson—The Washington Post/Getty Images, © Frederic J. Brown—AFP/Getty Images, © Etienne Laurent—AFP/Getty Images, © Lokman Vural Elibol—Anadolu/Getty Images, © Etienne Laurent—AFP/Getty Images, © Etienne Laurent—AFP/Getty Images

Thousands of homes and businesses have been destroyed by wildfires that broke out across Los Angeles, California, beginning January 7. It’s hard to describe the damage the fires have caused. What is clear is that people are coming together to help each other.

Fighting the Fires

Fanned by high winds, the fires spread quickly, making them difficult to fight. Several U.S. states, as well as Mexico and Canada, sent firefighters to California. They worked alongside the Los Angeles Fire Department to battle the flames.

Helping Neighbors

Residents, charities, and local businesses sprang into action. Some turned their buildings into collection sites where people could bring donations. Others offered rides to people who had been ordered to evacuate (leave) their homes.

Several hotels opened their doors to people who had to evacuate or who had lost their homes. And animal shelters took in pets whose owners had been forced to leave them behind. As local shelters became full, other rescue organizations arrived to fly animals to shelters in other states.

Giving Back

The fires have affected Los Angeles residents from all walks of life. Some are celebrities, while others are everyday people. Those who were less affected quickly offered their support. Beyoncé, for example, announced that her foundation would donate $2.5 million to those in need. Most of the kindness and generosity has come from regular Americans. They are donating food, clothing, supplies, and money.

Officials say Los Angeles appreciates the support. It may be needed for weeks and months to come.

Click through the slideshow above, which shows some of the people who are helping wildfire victims.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day

Martin Luther King, Jr., and his wife, Coretta Scott King (center-right) walk arm in arm during a march for civil rights from Selma to Mongomery, Alabama.

Today, January 20, 2025, is Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. The U.S. holiday marks King’s birthday. How did the civil right leader’s birthday become a national holiday?

U.S. congressman John Conyers introduced a bill to honor King’s birthday in April 1968, not long after the civil rights leader was killed. But before a bill can become a law, it needs support from members of Congress. There was not enough support at the time, and the bill didn’t pass. Conyers would reintroduce the bill every year.

During the 1970s, due partly to the hard work of King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, public support for the bill grew stronger. Congressional support also increased. By 1979, the bill had support from U.S. president Jimmy Carter and a petition with 300,000 signatures. Again, Congress voted on the bill. It lost by five votes.

By 1983, public support for formal recognition of King was overwhelming. That year, both houses of Congress voted to make the third January of each year Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. President Ronald Reagan signed the bill into law on November 2, 1983.

Why We Need Farms

Some of those tree-eating goats live on farms. If it wasn’t for farms, we wouldn’t have many of the things we depend on. You can learn more about agriculture, or farming, at Britannica!

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ruminant

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noun

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: an animal (such as a cow or sheep) that has more than one stomach and that swallows food and then brings it back up again to continue chewing it

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